Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri
Manchester United manager David Moyes has said he's still short of players ready to go straight into the English champions' first-team and warned fans to prepare for more days like last weekend's derby defeat
.
United were thrashed 4-1 by Manchester City, a result immediately billed as a "demolition derby", on Sunday.
Moyes, speaking ahead of Wednesday's League Cup tie against arch-rivals Liverpool, said he was under no illusions about the scale of the task confronting him in succeeding retired United manager Alex Ferguson, who bowed out with the team winning the Premier League by 11 points last season.
"It was always going to be tough following such a great manager with a great team and I think people with real football knowledge will know there are probably some changes to be made," Moyes said in comments reported by Britain's national press on Wednesday.
"It is not going to be made in one fell swoop. It is going to be done in time.
"That is why the Manchester United board realised the job that needed to be done was a long-term one.
"There was always going to be days like this and there might well be more days like this," the Scot added.
Moyes's delayed arrival from Everton meant the only major signing United made during the last transfer window was Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini from his old club.
United failed in their attempts to bring Spain Under-21 captain Thiago Alcantara and midfielders Cesc Fabregas, Ander Herrera and Daniele de Rossi to Old Trafford.
Meanwhile Everton's Leighton Baines remained at Goodison Park while fellow left-back Fabio Coentrao could not be enticed away from Real Madrid.
"I don't think it's actually the squad, I think we've got numbers," said Moyes as he prepared to face a Liverpool side set to be buoyed by the return from suspension of striker Luis Suarez.
"Maybe we've got work to do to bring in players not for the squad but to go right into the team.
"That will happen. But going back to that transfer window, we always said it was going to be a tough one and it was going to take a little bit more time."
Moyes accepted that for all his long experience of football, which he hoped had prepared him for the daunting task of succeeding Ferguson, nothing could compare to the job of actually being United manager.
"I thought I was (prepared) but obviously when you come here then I realise maybe I wasn't," said Moyes.
"It is a club on its own. It is a fantastic place to work with great players.
"But we have to do well enough to make sure people on the outside think the work we are doing is the right stuff," he added.
Source: AFP
GMT 10:16 2018 Tuesday ,11 December
Kiev the latest home away from home for Shakhtar in crunch matchGMT 09:27 2018 Monday ,10 December
Gladbach win to go second, Mainz grab controversial drawGMT 07:27 2018 Sunday ,09 December
Messi's free-kick double keeps Barcelona clear at the top of La LigaGMT 11:56 2018 Thursday ,06 December
Messi primed for Catalan derby after Ballon d'Or snubGMT 14:47 2018 Wednesday ,05 December
All-conquering Shiffrin set for more success as WC returns to EuropeGMT 15:53 2018 Monday ,03 December
Swiss test for hosts Portugal, England meet Dutch in Nations LeagueGMT 07:07 2018 Sunday ,02 December
Man City extend Premier League lead; rivals United fall further backGMT 20:37 2018 Wednesday ,28 November
Record winners Sevilla among three Spanish sides seeking EL progressMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor